WDBJ 7 morning news for 01/31/97

06:00-01

E-Helms

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-110
GRAPHIC=Helms

A Henry County teenager will spend life in prison for a violent crime spree that ended in murder.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./May 1996;

17- year- old Tommy Helms was sentenced yesterday to life plus 23-years for a series of armed robberies and the murder of a teenage girl in the fall of '95.
15- year- old Lavina Scales was shot eight times in the head.
Helms ultimately confessed to killing the young woman.
Before imposing punishment, the judge spoke about how Scales was robbed of the chance to graduate from school, marry and have children.
The comments brought tears to the eyes of Scales' father.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The first
((JAMES VAUGHN/SCALES' FATHER:THE FIRST STEP TO ANY KIND OF HEALING IS JUSTICE, AND WITHOUT JUSTICE YOU CAN'T BE HEALED, SO THE HEALING PROCESS BEGINS.))
SUPER=01-James Vaughn/Scales' Father; :00
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=process begins.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The prosecution and defense agreed that Helms should start his sentence in the juvenile detention center.
But the judge ruled that Helms will serve his sentence in state prison.

P-rICHMOND-Robbery

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#596-43
GRAPHIC=BANK ROBBERY

A bank teller was killed and three others injured during a bank holdup in Richmond yesterday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond

It happened at a NationsBank branch on the east end of the city about nine yesterday morning.
Police say two men opened fire as they entered the bank, took an undisclosed amount of money, and then ran out...at one point exchanging gunfire with a police officer.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=One was carrying
((BRENDA HUGHES/RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT: ONE WAS CARRYING AN M 16 RIFLE. HE'S A BLACK MALE, ABOUT 6 FEET TALL, AGE 20 TO 27. HE'S WEARING A BLACK SKULL CAP, BLACK THREE-QUARTER LENGTH COAT AND BLUE JEANS. THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW WAS ALSO ARMED, CARRYING A SHOTGUN.))
SUPER=01-Brenda Hughes/Richmond Police Department;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=carrying a shotgun.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The robbers ran into a nearby cemetery and drove off in a gray car.
They're still at large.
Two of the victims were bank employees.
(----------------)

simpson

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=simpson

In Los Angeles, Sheriff's deputies have wrapped up a search at the home of a juror from the O-J Simpson CRIMINAL trial.
A source says Brenda Moran and and a second panel member as well as an
entertainment agent--- are under investigation for contacting jurors in the
CIVIL trial about possible media deals.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Santa Monica, CA;
4:13:15
Meantime, at the civil trial the jury returns for day four of deliberations.
Yesterday, jurors asked to see photo boards illustrating some key pieces of disputed evidence.
(----------------)

Collapse

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

In Houston, Texas-- Rescuers have spent the night searching for more possible victims of a wall collapse at a shopping center.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Houston, TX;

A wall in the process of being torn down fell early yesterday morning trapping shoppers and walkers.
At least three people died and authorities fear six others are buried beneath the debris.
Rescuers have been using dogs to hunt for victims, and cranes were brought in to move rubble.
(----------------)

E-Benton

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-101
GRAPHIC=Benton, Michael

When a 33- year- old man was shot in the back of the head last fall on Chapman Avenue in Roanoke, City Police suggested it may have been an act of RACIAL violence.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

At Michael Shrawn Benton's preliminary hearing yesterday, the prosecution's key witness said she heard SOMEone say "We don't have no love for whities."
Though the case was certified to the grand jury for indictment, Benton's attorney says he did not hear anything attributed to his client suggesting any racial motivations.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:25:27
IN Q=If I recall
((DARREN HALEY/BENTON'S ATTORNEY: IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, HER TESTIMONY WAS THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME RACIAL REMARKS MADE BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE JUST HANGING OUT, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE LINKING MY CLIENT TO ANY OF THOSE REMARKS.))
SUPER=01-Darren Haley/Benton's Attorney
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=those remarks
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

We were not allowed to tape the 15- year- old eyewitness testimony, because of her age.
She did say she saw the first of two or three shots fired, before she ran to safety.

E-Marijuana

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-109
GRAPHIC=Marijuana

Virginia's House of Delegates votes to outlaw marijuana for medical purposes.
House members members voted overwhelmingly to overturn a law it passed in 19-79.
The vote came just one day after the New England Journal of Medicine said the drug DOES have legitimate medical uses.
Ellen Qualls has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=85 out of
SUPER=01-Del. Bob Marshall/(R) Manassas; :05
SUPER=01-Del. Kenneth Melvin/(D) Portsmouth; :17
SUPER=@file; :31
SUPER=@Griffith; :42
SUPER=@Ellen1; :1:04
RUNS=1:39
OUT Q=Qualls, News7, Richmond.
((
85 out of 100 Delegates agreed with Bob Marshall.
SOT 12:27:53 FRED TAPE
((DEL. BOB MARSHALL: THERE IS NO SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND EVIDENCE THAT SMOKED MARIJUANA IS MEDICALLY SUPERIOR TO CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THERAPIES. FORGET SINCERITY. I'M TALKING SCIENCE.))
RUNS=:09

But 13 members took a political risk.
SOT FRED TAPE 12:25:36
((DEL. KENNETH MELVIN: THIS IS A MATTER OF COMPASSION HERE. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. THIS HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS. WHY ARE WE RUSHING TO DO THIS? SIMPLY BECAUSE OF SOME KNEE-JERK REACTION TO SOMETHING GOING ON ON THE OTHER COAST.))
RUNS=:14

California and Arizona drew national scorn by legalizing prescription pot last year.
But Salem Delegate Morgan Griffith says Virginia's legalization law is much more narrowly drawn.
SOT FRED TAPE 12:21:39
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: THIS HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE '79, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH IT. SO I KNOW IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR. I KNOW I MAY NOT BE BACK NEXT YEAR-- AND I KNOW THERE'S GREAT JOY IN THAT --BECAUSE I WILL BE PORTRAYED AS SOME KIND OF PROPONENT OF LEGALIZED MARIJUANA.))
RUNS=:21

sot standup

The irony is that NO pharmacies are licensed to prescribe marijuana in Virginia -- so the law has never really been invoked. Terminal patients must still break the law to get their drugs.
runs=:00

A Richmond area AIDS patient, who asked NOT to be identified, is one of them.
SOT GRAY TAPE #3? 13:57:09 AIDS PATIENT
((MOST OF THESE DRUGS, UNFORTUNATELY, CAUSE NAUSEA AND VOMITING. AND I HAVE FOUND IF I SMOKE TWO OR THREE HITS AFTER I TAKE MY PILLS, I DON'T GET SICK.))
RUNS=:13

The House says pot's synthetic cousin Marinol is good enough.
The AIDS patient says NO.
Now it's up to the Senate.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

E-Carter

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=THa
TAPE#97-7
GRAPHIC=Carter

A Pittsylvania County man who shot and killed two people will also spend life in prison.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Chatham;

25- year- old Mark Anthony Carter signed a plea agreement yesterday to avoid the death penalty.
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./February 1996;

He admitted to shooting and killing Sydney Sherell Hairston and Darrell Womack last February.
Carter also pleaded guilty to shooting and stabbing a third victim, who survived the attack.
Before imposing punishment, the judge gave Carter a chance to speak.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I'd like
((MARK ANTHONY CARTER:I'D LIKE YOU PEOPLE TO KNOW, I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL NOBODY THAT NIGHT, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT IF IT WEREN'T FOR KNOVA DAY, THESE PEOPLE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY. ))
SUPER=07-Mark Anthony Carter;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=alive today.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

(Ka-Nova) Knova Day was in the courtroom.
During the attack, he was stabbed 14-times and shot twice but says he's satisfied with the agreement.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I don't
((KNOVA DAY/PROSECUTION WITNESS:I DON'T WISH NOBODY DEATH, EVEN THOUGH HE KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND ALMOST KILLED ME, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THAT COLD HEARTED, BUT IF IT HAD BEEN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, THE WAY I WAS FEELING, YEAH, I WOULD HAVE WISHED HIM DEATH. THERESA RICHARDSON/DARRELL WOMACK'S SISTER:I'M TRYING TO GO ON AND BE STRONG, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE GOT THE DEATH PENALTY FOR WHAT HE DONE, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO TAKE MY BROTHER'S LIFE NOR SHERELL'S LIFE.))
SUPER=01-Knova Day/Prosecution Witness; :00
SUPER=01-Theresa Richardson/Darrell Womack's Sister; :15
RUNS=:26
OUT Q=Sherell's life.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Carter was sentenced to two life terms, plus 63- years.
(----------------)

E-Williams

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#97-6
GRAPHIC=NONE

Police say blood tests show that Evelyn Williams of Blacksburg HAD been drinking when she struck and killed a Virginia Tech student on campus earlier this month.
Williams' blood alcohol level registered point-oh-four, below the legal limit of point-oh-eight.
But Tech police chief Mike Jones says he's sure a forensic formula to calculate blood alcohol levels hours earlier will prove Williams was legally intoxicated.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Williams refused a breath test and field sobriety tests at the scene of the accident on Southgate Drive.
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/January 11;

Police had to get a warrant to draw her blood six hours AFTER the crash.
Jones says 20- year- old Daniel Kelly was walking on the edge of the road when he was hit from behind.
(----------------)

3-SWatch

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=school info

Yesterday's wintry weather has caused some school closings and delays.
Let's look at the list.. Take SchoolWatch

OJ

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=simpson

In Los Angeles, Sheriff's deputies have carried away a personal computer and files from the home of a juror from the O-J Simpson CRIMINAL trial.
A source says the juror and a second panel member are under investigation for contacting jurors in the CIVIL trial about possible media deals.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Santa Monica, CA;
4:13:15
Meantime, at the civil trial the jury returns for day four of deliberations.
Yesterday, jurors asked to see photo boards illustrating some key pieces of disputed evidence.
(----------------)

FBI-BLAST

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

There were some tense moments yesterday at the F-B-I office in San Diego when a suspicious package arrived in the mail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-San Diego, CA;

The suspected mail bomb forced the evacuation of the building and was later detonated.
The F-B-I says tests will be conducted on the package debris to determine if it was a bomb.
SUPER=03-Vallejo, CA;

Yesterday morning, an explosion blew a manhole-sized crater in the wall of a courthouse in northern California.
It was that region's fourth bomb-related incident in a week.
(----------------)

Mall-collapse

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Several people are still missing this morning from the collapse of part of a shopping mall in Houston, Texas.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Houston, TX;

A wall in the process of being torn down fell early yesterday morning trapping shoppers and walkers.
At least three people died and authorities fear six others are buried beneath the debris.
Rescuers have been using dogs to hunt for victims, and cranes were brought in to move rubble.
(----------------)

PERU

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori left Peru early this morning headed for Canada to meet with the Prime Minister of Japan to discuss the hostage crisis.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lima, Peru;
4:08:20
Seventy-two hostages are still being held in the Japanese ambassador's residence by members of a peruvian rebel group.
Fujimori's younger brother remains among the captives.
The crucial Japan- Peru summit will be held tomorrow in Toronto.
There are also reports that Fujimori will meet with president Clinton on Monday.
(----------------)

E-Bank-Robbery

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tbr
TAPE#97-5
GRAPHIC=Bank robbery

Two men opened fire at a Nationsbank in Richmond yesterday killing a bank teller and wounding three others.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

Police say 23- year- old Lori Robinson died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
The men were armed with assault rifles and a shotgun.
They escaped after grabbing an undisclosed amount of cash.
(----------------)

Legionnaires

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#97-3
GRAPHIC=Legionnaires

The Legionnaire's outbreak in the New River Valley has turned up seven more cases since October.
The total is now 23 including two people who died.
This is the same outbreak from the fall and no one else has gotten sick with Legionnaires Disease.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg;

At a news conference yesterday New River Health District Director Jody Hershey outlined a Centers for Disease Control report of its preliminary study.
The report confirms health officials' findings linking the outbreak to a display hot tub at Lowe's in Christiansburg.
The C-D-C is now reassessing maintenance guidelines for whirlpools and spas.
(----------------)

P-Stroke

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=cst
TAPE# 597-03
GRAPHIC=Stroke

A drug that can cure strokes was approved in June.
However, T-P-A still is not widely used.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The drug dissolves blood clots in the brains of patients suffering the most common type of stroke-- PROVIDED it's given within just three hours of the onset of a stroke.
But fewer than ten-percent of eligible patients are now getting the drug-- partly because some neurologists are afraid to use it.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=This is a
((DR. PATRICK LYDEN/UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: THIS IS A DANGEROUS DRUG, IF YOU DON'T USE THIS DRUG CORRECTLY YOU CAN CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD. SO I THINK DOCTORS HAVE WANTED TO GET THE HANG OF IT SO TO SPEAK. ))
SUPER=01-Dr. Patrick Lyden/University of California; :
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=so to speak.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Which is why the American Medical Association has launched a campaign to increase the use of T-P-A.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We are changing
((ZACH HALL/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: WE ARE CHANGING FROM A PASSIVE STANCE TO AN ACTIVE AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT FOR STROKE.))
SUPER=01-Zach Hall/National Institutes of Health; :
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=of stroke
(----------------)
VO-NAT

To do that, the A-M-A says paramedics, hospital emergency rooms and neurologists must begin to treat strokes aggressively, the way they treat heart attacks--
If you suspect someone is suffering a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.
(-----------------)
(toss to bump)

4-SWatch

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=school info

Yesterday's wintry weather has caused some school closings and delays.
Let's look at the list.. Take SchoolWatch

Helms

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=THa
TAPE#net (edit of 96-110)
GRAPHIC=Helms

A Henry County teen who confessed to killing a 15- year- old girl in the fall of 19-95 will spend life in prison.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./May 1996;

17- year- old Tommy Helms was sentenced to life plus 23-years for a series of armed robberies and the murder of Lavina Scales.
She was shot eight times in the head.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The prosecution and defense agreed that Helms should start his sentence in the juvenile detention center.
But the judge ruled that Helms will serve his sentence in state prison.

Abortion

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-108
GRAPHIC=Abortion

Abortion rights opponents lost a battle yesterday in Richmond.
A Senate committee defeated a ban on so- called partial- birth abortions.
We must warn you, explicit language is used in this story to describe the procedure.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

A nurse who testified before CONGRESS was brought in as the star witness.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:05:43
IN Q=And he
((AND HE SUCTIONED OUT THE BABY'S BRAINS. AND THE BABY WENT LIMP. HE PULLED THE HEAD OUT, CUT THE CORD, AND THE BABY WAS DEAD.))
SOT 13:59:49
((I WILL TELL YOU THAT ANYONE IN MY OPINION WHO PERFORMS THAT, OR PROVIDES AID AND COMFORT TO SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW PERFORMS THAT, SHOULD BE HUNG FROM THE HIGHEST TREE.))
SUPER=01-Brenda Pratt Shafer/Nurse; :00
SUPER=01-Sen. Steve Martin/(R) Chesterfield; :08
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=highest tree.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The committee defeated the ban on a 9 to 5 vote.
But abortion rights supporters expect to hear more about it this session.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:01:07
IN Q=This is
((THIS IS A VERY HIGH-PITCHED, EMOTIONAL BATTLE FOR THE ANTI-ABORTION FORCES. THEY LOVE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY ...LIFE OR HER HEALTH.))
SUPER=01-Karen Raschke/Virginia Planned Parenthood;
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=her health.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

If a similar bill in the House of Delegates is approved, it would have to face the same Senate committee.
(------0----------)

S-Donnelley

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-105
GRAPHIC=New Jobs

Most of the time, companies looking to build new plants avoid areas with low unemployment, since it may be hard to find workers.
SS=RR Donnelley

But the Roanoke Valley's low jobless rate hasn't hindered R-R Donnelley's recruitment efforts.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

During a three day session last week, close to THREE- THOUSAND people filled out applications to work
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;
at the new plant Donnelley is building in Roanoke County.
The jobs start at nine- dollars- an- hour.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:04:08
IN Q=A new
((MARJORIE SKIDMORE/VA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION: A NEW STARTUP ALWAYS BRINGS A LOT OF FOLKS OUT. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, WHETHER A THOUSAND OR TWO THOUSAND, WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T EXPECT THREE THOUSAND.))
SUPER=01-Marjorie Skidmore/Va. Employment Commission;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=three thousand applications.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

At first Donnelley will hire just 40 people.
But by the end of this year, close to 200 could be working there.
The V-E-C also believes the company's reputation played a big role in the strong turnout.
Donnelley has a magazine- printing facility in Lynchburg.
(-------------)

Biotech

ANCHOR=mel
NEWSCAST=mornin'
WRITER=spr
TAPE#net (edit of 96-102)
GRAPHIC=education

High School students across the state are learning to test D- N- A samples... thanks to Virginia Tech.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;

The university's Outreach Program is supplying thousands of dollars worth of biotechnology supplies to any school that wants to use them for a two week period.
These students at Lord Botetourt are learning to separate D- N- A molecules.
Their teacher says these techniques are being used for a variety of purposes.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9:36:56
IN Q=Court systems
((JOHN MCLAUGHLIN/LORD BOTETOURT HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: COURT SYSTEMS ARE USING IT FOR IDENTIFICATION. THEY SEE A LOT OF DISEASES AND DISORDERS BEING IDENTIFIED... AND POSSIBLY CURED BY THE SEPARATION OF THE DNA GENES THEMSELVES. ))
SUPER=01-John McLaughlin/Biology Teacher;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=themselves
(----------------)
VO-NAT

49 schools state- wide are participating in the program.
Virginia Tech hopes to offer immunology and column chromatography kits in the future.
(----------------)

4-Scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=News 7 generic/college hoops

In sports,
Hampton never had a chance as it lost last night in Greensboro 82-to-75.
For last night's college hoops scores, let's check the boards.
(-------------)
WIPE TO SCORES
SUPER=#556
SUPER=X5027;
SUPER=0098-/Richmond/66/j/Virginia/83///j/Ferrum/74//Shenandoah/68///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0098-/Lynchburg/70/j/E. Mennonite/101///j/Coker/62//Longwood/50///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0098-/Virginia State/49/j/Virginia Union/64////Hampton U./75/j/N.C.
A&T/82///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0098-j/Clemson #7/70//Georgia Tech/57////Cincinnati #8/70/j/Louisville
#9/81///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0098-/Indiana #17/67/j/Ohio State/73///j/Tulsa #21/69//S.M.U./49///
RUNS=:35
(-------------) OUT Q=....last score."